In lieu to your birthday celebration sir, the Asiwaju of Igbogbo, this open letter is written never to praise you but to hit the nail on the head on emerging issues, and I have to make it known because as far as Igbogbo is concerned today, you chiefly occupy a very big space in my heart. My family will always be grateful to you in all hemispheres. Be that as it may, many people are conversant with your political participation, particularly in Ikorodu, and Lagos in general. People are acquaint with the fact that you are one of the key players of PDP creation in Lagos, the first Secretary to the Lagos State government, first Lagos commissioner for Education, former Chairman, Governing council of Lagos State University, former Chairman of Lagos State School of Management Board, prominent member, Governor Advisory Committee, Lagos, and now Member of National Directorate of Employment, to mention a few of the offices you have held.
Daddy, I wish you a happy birthday, and May whatever you have worked for never work against you and yours. Though, the content of this letter could have been better if confidentially discussed with you or written to you in private instead of making it opened. Two reasons contributed to my decision of making it open. First, having known you to be an embodiment of knowledge and eclectic scholar with wide range of knowledge in politics, economy as well as behavioral pattern of the people of Igbogbo, time might not allow you to let me comprehensively express myself. As your son, I enjoy listening to you anytime, either on my quest to see you or when being summoned by you, and this made me settled for an open letter.
Secondly, I want the youth of Igbogbo to be fully aware of my candid position on leadership and its responsibility. The latter reason remains the cogent reason behind my decision of making it opened. It is your birthday sir, while many others may choose to sleet you in a Hippocratic manner, I see it as an underestimation to say you do not worth being given an accolade. Your political history, your ideological contributions to the growth and development in Igbogbo as well as your social participation amongst groups are more than enough reasons to celebrate you as an icon of inestimable value and impeccable integrity.
In addition, this letter is written to make you understand that unlike my late father, you have reaped and still reaping from the people you have built, and the extraordinary work you have done within and outside Igbogbo. You have proved to the world that you are exceptional and outstanding in many facets of human endeavors - as legal practitioner, banker, writer, and particularly as a successful politician. Yes, unlike my late father. I remember the very first time I had a profound one-to-one conversation with you in 2005, right inside your residential office, where you made me understand how close you were to Daid Olayinka Awosanya (DOA) during your school days, defining his ideology in a manner I have never observed. I was amazed and felt special to have been birthed by such a father. However, look at you today, where is my father? You are therefore worth to be called my adopted father, I must disclose.
As successful as DOA was in the area he chose, while he is still my role model till this moment, his school of thoughts were superb and unsentimental, he was straightforward and objective, kindhearted and loving, a family man. However, while he also worth being given an accolade, he was so unlucky to be given the kind of ovation of that nature accorded to you on your birthday considering his contributions to the development of igbogbo kingdom unknowingly to many. The records show that he worth it, he was a man of integrity too. You have therefore worked for these accolades you get, and you are getting the results. I thank God for your life, daddy.
At this moment, let me go straight to the point and hint you sir what people are saying behind you, particularly between the last local government elections in 2017 and this moment. Just as typical of the opposition, they will always see an influential political personality as selfish, greedy and self-centered in recommending and nominating representatives. Well, in my own opinion, their criticisms are what make you what you are today. You are a mentor and role model to many. If I am to define you on your manner of recommendation, I will say you are a man who checks character first in line with the values of our culture, academic qualification next and lastly human social interaction.
Nonetheless, everybody loves power. Nobody is expected to be loved by everybody. You have your loyalist, but many of them are like turtle. They pinch goodies from you, and run away. We see them every day. We chat with them. We know how they talk about you. They turn to your house rats because they are seeking for your influence. We know them. We see them every day. They are youths.
Daddy, each time I visit your house, you often remind me of how important it is for youth to partake in party politics. You have always craved for youth engagement in politics. And fortunately, on the 30th of May 2018, to solidify your interest in youths’ political participation, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, the “Not Too Young to Run” bill which allows the younger adults to run for political offices. But daddy, the truth be told, these youths yearning for youths’ political empowerment or representation are recently observed to be subjected to selfishness and self-centeredness. I was taught that loyalty is the least in leadership quality. With very few of them already at the corridor of power, it is evident that youths are not intellectually ready, but are only longing to enjoy the benefits of political position, and not purposely to make situation better than the way it is.
Though, while I will not succumb to the idea of aged people continually ruling over the group that constitute higher percentage of population in every part of the country because some people are also too old to rule, the youths’ mentality on appropriation of resources, responsiveness, and ability to show empathy must change because it is obvious that our youths are already equipped with an idea of eating more than they can chew.
May I remind you Sir, that though today’s youths are vibrant and articulate? They have programs - beautiful ones. They have the skills of presenting ideas in unique ways. However, do they have the zeal to implement those ideas? Are they radical about those achieving the ideas? Do they have aggressive motives of ensuring those ideas are implemented in favor of the general populace? How determined are they without their idea being swayed by external factors? Responses to these aforementioned questions would largely depend on the activities and qualities of representation of few youths who have represented and those who are still representing their various constituencies.
To buttress my argument sir, the federal corruption charges against Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the youngest former speaker ever of lower chamber of the House of Assembly are a typical example. He was 37years old of age as at the period he was the speaker of the House of Representatives. Ranging from 10billion Naira bank loan used for the purchase of official cars, going against the public procurement acts, the illegal increment of the principal officers’ allowances from 36million Naira to 50million naira, to the 40billion naira misappropriation charges, to mention few.
Unfortunately, this same politician had been elected in the primary election under the platform of Action Democratic Party (ADP) to contest for the goernorshi position in Ogun State in the 2019 general election. In addition, the financial misappropriation alleged against Yahya Bello, the youngest sitting governor in Nigeria. Smokes do not erode without fire. His attitude influenced by politics against his people is not what is expected from a representative of youth. Things are supposed to be done uniquely and differently.
Youths in political power are expected to love their fellow youths, explore their maximum qualities to invest massively in human capacity development as against their predecessors’, but reverse is the case. They see the position of power as an avenue and opportunity to embezzle and syphon public funds, and thereby jeopardize the future of younger generation and further opportunity for younger youths.
Daddy, I am not denting the youths, especially those one from Igbogbo as I am one. I am only being frank here sir on explaining their true image exactly the way I see it. As part of their unwise attitudes, they might ask you to disregard this letter, but as diplomatic as I know you, drastic move shall be taken by you as well as those ones coming behind as from this moment on, not to only look for political post for them, but most importantly to have their mentality changed about their responsibilities and responsiveness towards their society, and to quit seeing their various positions as opportunities to mismanage public funds like prodigal sons.
Nevertheless, following the period our leaders (late and alive), in the likes of General Yakubu Gowon, Agunyi-Ironsi, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Aminu Kano, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Murtala Muhamed, General Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Now democratic president) and others. They assumed political leadership at relatively young age, it also worth clamoring, for youth to say enough is enough. However, how ready are the youths? What has being their exceptional achievement to authenticate their genuine aspiration? Why must they give excuse of learning at the job?
Chief Gani Fawehinmi began to defend people for free, far before he started to get pain in cash and in kind. I know of a particular Lawyer in Igbogbo who have been corrupt right from his university days. In fact, I advised a president of Igbogbo Students’ Union to lead a revolution in educational system in Igbogbo volunteering myself as active member of the movement. She was confused by some cracked heads. Chief Anthony Eromesele Enahoro was jailed at the age of 21years because of his struggle for Nigeria’s independence.
Our youths in Igbogbo refused to liberate themselves, not only because of fear, but also subjective and bias in their social relationship due to elders’ selfish influences. They are afraid to be dent, and still want to lead. Where is the enthusiasm? Professor Wole Shoyinka, John Pepper Clark, and Chinua Achebe that we all celebrate today achieved greatness while they were at their youthful age.
I stand to be corrected that all of the past Nigeria leaders did not assumed their office on a platter of gold, why should we? For instance, Major Patrick Chukwuma Nwogu was just 28years when he pulled off his January 15, 1966 coup. General Yakubu Gowon was 32 when he became the Head of State, under whom Nigeria fought a civil war and could not prevent the war that started when he turned 33. Even the first military Head of State, Gen. Agunyi Ironsi was just 41 when he assumed power.
In addition, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in his early 30s when he started the Egbe Omo Ododuwa as a student in London, which was metamorphosed to a political party, the Action Group. Others are Sir Ahmadu Bello who came up with the Norther Peoples’ Congress, the Late Ainu Kano who decided to speak up for the right of Talakawas, the 30years old Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe who, when returned from the U.S. began his Pan-Africanist struggle in Ghana.
The questions I think you should keep asking them sir, should include that on their area of discipline, what price have they paid as youths? However, I am of the opinion that despite all odds, the youth should be given the mantle of leadership. We should be allowed to lead our battle. Sir, you have being our advocate despite our failure to meet up with your laid down standards. Though I am aware of some youth trolling your house, wanting to use your influence get political positions. We know them, and they hate some of us for being franked and blunt. They are already disappointment even before given the opportunity to represent us. They are unaware that criticisms are part of factors that make one a better person. They failed to understand that criticisms enrich the knowledge of the criticized. They should be enlightened on respect for laws and orders, and rules and regulations, so that we would not have the replicate of what we have now in the future.
Ones again Daddy, happy birthday to you sir, God shall continue to make you a blessing for the people of Igbogbo as you always being.
IGBA ODUN ODUN KAN NI, L’ASE EDUMARE.
Thank you Sir.
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